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Also, what is the demand for teachers in Colorado?
If I go through one of these programs will I be sent down to Pueblo or some other far away area to teach?

Thanks in advance

I'll leave the other questions to others, but I will answer this one. First, you won't be "sent" to someplace to teach. You will have to apply where you want to teach--probably a lot of places--and see where you may get interviews, and hopefully a job offer. You may have to accept a job in a less than optimum location--often that is where there may be an opening for a new teacher where they will accept a candidate without years of experience.

Get this right: unlike a lot of places, teaching jobs are coveted in Colorado. Teacher pay is OK--especially as one gains years of teaching experience. Benefits are generally good, time off (summer) works well with folks who like summertime for mountain recreation, retirement has been (at least up to now) pretty secure. So, teachers--once hired--tend to stay in the profession for the duration--meaning not much job turnover.

Urban and suburban districts pay the best, but some schools may have the least desirable student characteristics. Rural school districts don't pay as well--and, in resort areas, teacher pay is frequently nowhere near enough to afford to live comfortably in the community. In the non-resort smaller towns, there absolutely is bias in favor of hiring teachers from within the community. The "good ol' boy" system is still firmly in place in many smaller districts.

All of this said, it is possible to get hired as a teacher in Colorado, but it may be pretty difficult--especially in the current economic environment. I am not a teacher myself, but I was married to one--and what I relate here was her experience.

It makes me laugh non-teachers think they can just jump into teaching and find a job. If you're serious about it, pursue it, but don't assume there are jobs to be had. Most people have to do some grunt work (e.g. subbing) before a district puts you into your own classroom. And being a great sub might not even cut it. If you are going to pursue it, look into the much needed areas; like ELL/bilingual, science, and math. Those ARE areas you can jump into a job quickly.

FYI -- the CO board is taking about three months to process teacher applications right now.

It makes me laugh non-teachers think they can just jump into teaching and find a job. If you're serious about it, pursue it, but don't assume there are jobs to be had. Most people have to do some grunt work (e.g. subbing) before a district puts you into your own classroom. And being a great sub might not even cut it. If you are going to pursue it, look into the much needed areas; like ELL/bilingual, science, and math. Those ARE areas you can jump into a job quickly.

FYI -- the CO board is taking about three months to process teacher applications right now.

I didn't think I could just get a job teaching, that is why I asked what the demand was for teachers in Colorado.
My wife is a dental hygienist and one of her patients said that Erie was looking for teachers, so that is why I was interested.

I was mainly looking for what is the best way to get into it and if it's worth doing (if there aren't any teaching jobs there is no point in me pursuing a year of school to do it...I could go learn something else)

I didn't think I could just get a job teaching, that is why I asked what the demand was for teachers in Colorado.
My wife is a dental hygienist and one of her patients said that Erie was looking for teachers, so that is why I was interested.

I was mainly looking for what is the best way to get into it and if it's worth doing (if there aren't any teaching jobs there is no point in me pursuing a year of school to do it...I could go learn something else)

The Erie teachers work either for Boulder Valley Schools or St. Vrain Valley Schools. Both are desirable school districts, and in BVSD, there are usually hundreds of applicants for every job.

well, after some more research I'm now leaning away from teaching as I've read that there are problems with BVSD (no 1% raise?) and the fact that teachers start out at around $33,000 and don't really make any more until about 10 years in.
My wife and I plan on having kids, and there is no way we could afford to on that salary (she would be the major bread winner doing hygiene, but obviously we'd somehow have to manage on my salary for a while which would be impossible)
Even when I was making almost double that salary we were reluctant...

oh well, at least those who can hit/shoot/throw a ball make a decent living!

That is not entirely true. You can google BVSD and find their salary scale. They get regular step raises.

Yes but the 1% I think he was referring to is all they are giving for cost of living increases, which sucks. There will be a new salary schedule posted each year, but it doesn't change much.

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